The city of Baltimore is tackling the heroine epidemic. There's a new push in preventing overdoses using the ever more expensive drug naloxone.

The city of Baltimore is tackling the heroine epidemic. There's a new push in preventing overdoses using the ever more expensive drug naloxone.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 5:44 PM EDT Jul 13, 2015

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

WEBVTT DAVID? THE FOCUS OF THE TASK FORCE IS SAVING LIVES. THIS BILLBOARD IS PART OF THAT EFFORT. STICKER SHOCK. THE PRICE OF NALOXZONE CONTINUES TO SKYROCKET. IT'S A DRUG WIDELY USED BY EMS CREWS TO COUNTERACT HERION AND OPIUM BASED PILL OVERDOSES. THE PRICE FOR JUST ONE DOSE, HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED IN THE PAST 8 MONTHS, FROM $19 TO $41 AND BALTIMORE CONGRESSMAN ELIJAH CUMMINGS IS URGING EVERYONE FROM THE GOVERNOR TO THE AG'S OFFICE TO TAKE AGRESSIVE STEPS TO NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE DRUGS MAKER. WHEN DRUG COMPANIES INCREASE THEIR PRICES AND CHARGE EXORBITANT RATES THEY DECREASE THE ACCESS TO THE DRUG AND THERE IS SOMETHING AWEFULLY WRONG WITH THAT PICTURE. THE JACKED UP PRICE COMES AT A CRITICAL AND UNFORTUNATE TIME. CITY HEALTH OFFICIALS ESTIMATE AS MANY AS 18,900 PEOPLE HAVE USED HEROIN IN THE PAST YEAR, THERE WERE 192 OVERDOSE DEATHS. THIS IS A LIFE OR DEATH ISSUE. ONE THAT AFFECTS OUR FRIENDS, OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR FAMILY MEMBERS. MAYOR STEPHANIE RAWLINGS BLAKE AND CITY HEALTH COMMISSIONER LENA WEN WANT NAL OXZONE AVAILABLE TO MORE THAN JUST HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. WE HAVE TO GET NALOXONE IN THE HANDS OF EACH AND EVERY PERSON WHO CAN SAVE A LIFE WHICH IS ALL OF US. OTHER EFFORTS TO COMBAT THE EPIDEMIC, INCLUDE THE CITY LAUNCHING A NEW PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN. THERE ARE BILL BOARDS ANNOUNCING A WEBSITE CALLED DON'T DIE DOT ORG. THE MAYOR'S HEROIN TREATMENT AND PREVENTION TASK FORCE IS ALSO RECOMMENDING A 24/7 COUNSELING AND REFERRAL SERVICE. A 24/7 TREATMENT CENTER. THE GOAL IS REALLY TREATMENT ON DEMAND, TO ALLOW PEOPLE WITH ADDICTIONS TO WALK IN AND GET TREATMENT AT ANY OUR OFFICE. IN THE WORKS AS A DATA TRACKING SYSTEM TO KEEP TABS ON AND EXIST BE IN TREATMENT CENTERS. RECOVERING ADDICTS SAY IT IS TOUGH TO GET INTO TREATMENT. THEY WERE THERE IN THE WINTER , IN THE SUMMER. THEY DIDN'T CARE WHAT I LOOKED LIKE. THEY DIDN'T CARE WHERE I CAME FROM.

Baltimore officials tackle heroin epidemic

The city of Baltimore is tackling the heroine epidemic. There's a new push in preventing overdoses using the ever more expensive drug naloxone.